Memorial Day 2019, 2020 and further

View below the dates for (among others) Memorial Day 2019 and Memorial Day 2020. You can also see on which day the holiday falls and how many days it is until this holiday.

Date

Holiday

Day

Week number

Days to go

May 28, 2018

Memorial Day 2018

Monday

22

-

May 27, 2019

Memorial Day 2019

Monday

22

189

May 25, 2020

Memorial Day 2020

Monday

22

553

May 31, 2021

Memorial Day 2021

Monday

22

924

May 30, 2022

Memorial Day 2022

Monday

22

1288

May 29, 2023

Memorial Day 2023

Monday

22

1652

May 27, 2024

Memorial Day 2024

Monday

22

2016

May 26, 2025

Memorial Day 2025

Monday

22

2380

May 25, 2026

Memorial Day 2026

Monday

22

2744

May 31, 2027

Memorial Day 2027

Monday

22

3115

May 29, 2028

Memorial Day 2028

Monday

22

3479

Significance of Memorial Day 2019

Memorial Day 2019 formally known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday observed yearly on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day 2019 is a day that commemorates all men and women who have died while serving in the military for the United States of America.

History of Memorial Day

The history of Memorial Day 2019 dates back to the American Civil War. It started as an event to honour soldiers who had died during the war. It is said to be inspired by the way people in the Southern states honoured the dead. The original national celebration of Decoration Day took place on 30 May 1868. There was over twenty four cities and towns across the United States that claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo (New York) was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966. In the late 19th century, the holiday (previously known as Decoration Day) became known as Memorial Day and was expanded to include the deceased veterans of all the wars fought by American forces. Originally, the holiday used to be celebrated on May 30, regardless of the day of the week that it fell on. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed and as a result the day changed.

Traditions of Memorial Day

Traditionally Memorial Day is viewed as a time of honour and remembrance. Throughout the United States it is common to visit cemeteries, particularly military ones, and decorate graves of the deceased with flowers, small flags and wreathes. Other common traditions of Memorial Day 2019 that are still practiced today include the raising the U.S. flag quickly to the tops of flagpoles, slowly lowered to half-mast, and then it is raised again to full height at noon. The lowering of the flag at half-mast is meant to honour the fallen soldiers who have died for their country over the years. While re-raising the flag is meant to symbolize the resolve of the living to carry on the fight for freedom so that the nation's heroes will not have died in vain. On the United States Capitol Building's West Lawn, a Memorial Day concert is held annually and is broadcasted live around the country. Additionally, there are thousands of Memorial Day 2019 parades all across the country in cities small and large. Many will wear or put on a display of red poppies on this day as a symbol of fallen soldiers. This tradition grew out of the famous poem by Canadian John McCrae known as ‘In Flander's Fields', where Moina Michael conceived an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honour of those who died serving the nation during war.

When is Memorial Day 2019

Memorial Day 2019 is a federal holiday and falls on the last Monday of May. The date of the Holiday changes each year but always remains on a Monday; consult the above table for exact dates.

See besides 'Memorial Day' even more holidays, click on one of the links below.